Several more of the reptilian creatures dropped down from their posts in the cavern, practically surrounding the group. All of the members drew their weapons. They all brandished swords, save for the ranger who pulled out a quarterstaff. The cleric had trouble holding up her greatsword, which she used mainly for show. Dorn held his two swords tightly, ready for whatever was to happen.
Jomz was the first to attack, swinging his sword to the right in an attempt to slice a kobold in half, but the creature pulled back in time. Jomz then lifted the sword over his head and let it fall down onto the kobold, splitting its skull in two.
At that same moment, Silah raised her sword to kill a kobold, but found herself falling backwards onto the rock hard ground, though it did end up saving her from a crossbow shot. Lor swung his staff to the left, knocking one kobold off its feet, and then to the right, breaking the ribs of another kobold. Dorn wasn't in too much trouble either. He easily moved forward to slit the throat of one creature and then jabbed another in the gut, spilling its innards onto the cavern floor.
Silah slowly got up, still struggling with the weight of her massive sword. Once again she raised it, and she then let it fall onto an approaching kobold, severing its arm from its side. It shrieked in agony as it slowly moved back, watching blood flow from its wound in horror. Its screams of endless torture ended as Jomz approached and removed its head.
Lor took care of the last kobold, breaking its neck, and rejoined the group.
"Seems like a very dangerous place to me," he said softly, hoping more kobolds weren't around to hear them. Suddenly, a moving shadow caught his eye at the far side of the cavern.
"What is it?" Dorn asked. Lor just gave him a look. Dorn nodded and gave each person a motion, sending Lor and himself to the right and Silah and Jomz to the left. The moved through the maze of stalagmites toward the one marked by Lor as the one where the movement had been. Jomz picked up a spear from a dead kobold on the way over.
Jomz was the first to spot the creature. It was another kobold, but more decoratively dressed, possibly the kobold commander, and it was looking the other way, a crossbow in hand. Jomz aimed carefully and then hurled the spear forward. The kobold heard Jomz's grunt of effort and turned in time to see its own left arm be torn away. The arm, holding the crossbow, fell to the ground. The kobold's short cry echoed through the chamber, but was cut short as Dorn grabbed it by the throat and pressed it against the side of a stalagmite.
"All right," he said, ready to interrogate the prisoner, "Why are you here? What is in the tunnels ahead?" Instead of an answer, Dorn found kobold mucus on his face and a grin showing on its dog-like muzzle. Dorn threw the kobold to the ground and then wiped the saliva from his face. Silah quickly cast a spell on the creature, sending it into a peaceful sleep.
"Are we asking questions or slowly letting him die?" she asked Dorn. "I can heal his wounds enough to stop the bleeding. We could take him prisoner."
"No. We're done with him." He nodded to Jomz who had his sword ready. Silah turned her face as the kobold was decapitated. She turned back and saw a large grin on Jomz's face as if he enjoyed killing more than life itself. Lor was already searching the body for anything of value.
"Check this out," Lor exclaimed. He held up a small violet colored cloth. "I think it's velvet." This kobold was definitely of a higher status than the others. Silah took the cloth in hand as Lor continued to search the body. Jomz claimed the kobold's crossbow and a halfspear it held, along with any gold in its pouch. Dorn claimed a small potion of which he did not know what it was. Silah kept the cloth.
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With the small band of kobolds eliminated, the group was beginning to feel fatigue.
"We need some rest," Silah insisted.
"Should we camp here?" Jomz asked.
"The cavern is too big to stay safe," Dorn examined, "Perhaps if we went back to that room down the other tunnel."
"All the way down there!" Jomz argued. "With those…things in there as well?"
"That room may be the safest one in this mine for all we know." He looked at the discouraged group. "Come on. By the time we get there, we'll have enough strength left to bring down a giant."
"Whatever, Dorn," Lor said, "As long as we get a good night's sleep."
They left the cavern the way they had returned. Time passed by unnoticed as they finally approached that same wooden door. Dorn drew his swords, as did the others save for Lor who still wanted to use his staff.
"On the count of three," Dorn said, "One…two…"